Elyria woman charged for three burglaries in the past month

Charlene M. Jones, 33, of Elyria, was arrested on charges she robbed two Elyria women with disabilities earlier this year and now has been charged with another count of burglary, according to Elyria police Capt. Chris Costantino.

Jones is now charged with three counts of burglary, a second-degree felony, and five counts of both forgery and receiving stolen property, which are fifth-degree felonies, after another woman came forward and told police she was robbed by Jones.

The woman, 80, of Elyria, told police Jones came to her home Feb. 14 on Delaware Avenue claiming her daughter was sick and needed help.

The woman agreed to go with Jones to 616 Prospect St. and purchase items for Jones on the 80-year-old’s credit cards, Costantino said.

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Jones reportedly returned the next day at 1:30 a.m., and told the woman her father almost killed himself and she needed someone to talk to, he said.

The woman let Jones in and she stole two credit cards from the woman’s purse, Costantino said.

The woman noticed the theft had occurred when she saw purchases she knew she didn’t make.

One of the purchases exceeded $400, according to Costantino.

The forgery and stolen property charges are linked to the taking and signing off on the credit card purchases, Costantino said.

“I hope this sends a strong message to Jones,” he said. “Jones was preying on elderly people.

“This woman was actually willing to help Jones, and it’s terrible the way she took advantage of her.”